Top reasons why you should go to Gujarat now!

If Garba, Thepla, Dandiya and Bandhni were not motivation enough, we give you a list of reasons why you should make Gujarat your next holiday destination…and what you must see while there.

From beaches to deserts, temples, wildlife and history…this vibrant state has something in store for everyone. A single trip may just not be enough to experience its rich diversity and culture— Gujarat is certainly India’s pride.

•With the highest number of operating airports in the country
• It is also the safest state in India, with the lowest crime rate (8.2).
• Gujarat has excellent roads—possibly one of the best in the country. So driving from one city to another is never exhausting!
• The Gujarati thali is to die for! It’s a balanced diet containing all four components (cereal, pulses, vegetables and rice) with supplements like pickle, chutney, papad, buttermilk and salad.
• It’s also known for the yummiest sweets, street food and farsans (steamed items served as snacks, starters or accompaniments). Some famous ethnic food items are Bhajiyas, Khaman and dhokla.
• The Sasan Gir wildlife sanctuary is the only abode of the majestic Asiatic lion. The chinkara, antelope, nilgai, jackal, wild boar, spotted deer, sambar, nilgai, peacock, rabbit, wild cat and buffaloes can also be seen here. The landscape of this state has something for everyone—beautiful beaches, deserts and mountains…there’s never a dull moment in Gujarat!

Pilgrimage places:
Dwarka is one of the principal pilgrimages of Hinduism. It has the Nageshwar Shiv temple as well as the exquisitely carved 12th century Rukmini temple. The legendary Dwarkadhish temple, which is also here, has two ‘dwars’ (doors)—‘Swarg dwar’ (door to heaven) for pilgrims to enter and ‘Moksha Dwar’ (door to salvation) to exit. Located at the ‘sangam’ (confluence) of the Gomati river and the Arabian Sea, this temple has been submerged six times and resurrected from ruins. The evening aarti here is a memorable experience!
Somnath is a pilgrim place for followers of both Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu. The most important temple here is the Kailash temple with its imposing architecture, a 50- meter high tower, intricate carvings and many holy images and idols. While in Porbandar, don’t miss the Sudamapuri temple, associated with a popular tale of Lord Krishna and his dear friend Sudama.
The Somnath mandir, Geeta mandir, and the Bhalkatirth temple (where Lord Krishna died) in Veravel are also worth a visit.

A peep into history:
A must-see place in Porbandar for history buffs is Kirti Mandir, the three-storey house where Mahatma Gandhi was born in 1869. It houses a Gandhian library, prayer hall, museum and picture gallery.

Industrial hub:
Jorwar is the village from where Dhirubhai Ambani hails. It has his house, which has now been converted into a museum. Veravel is an important centre for fisheries (processing and storing) as well as the shipping (ship making and building) industry. Jamnagar is famous for its bandhni (tieand- dye) fabrics. The Reliance oil refinery located here is the world’s largest grassroots refinery. Jetpur is another city famous for its textiles.

Beach destination:
Diu is a beautiful beach town consisting of a Fort, St. Paul’s Church and Nagoa beach.
Dwarka is also a pleasant spot for a beach holiday.